Starr M.D. - Tales of a Future Cat Lady

To my fellow square pegs,

You have been told you are too loud. You have been told you are too bold. You have been told that you are too proud. Too assertive. Too sexy. Too independent. Too you.

You have been told to soften. You have been told to fold into yourself so that you can fit into a world of round holes. I implore you; stay true to you. Embrace your edges and use what makes you different to carve out spaces of your own.

With love,

Starr, M.D.

Rosalyn and I are childhood best friends. When she gave me the honor of writing her foreword, I was terrified. How do I describe in 500 words, someone that I have admired for decades? The only way to write about Rosalyn, is to be authentic.

When I first met Rosalyn, she was a confident spitfire, with a personality as voracious as her curly, fire-red hair. A metaphor personified; her hair represented the duality of her personality. Her long locks were wispy and soft to the touch, but the deep red hues warned of the dangers of a roaring internal fire. Thats the enigma of Rosalyn. An iron-clad exterior that appears impenetrable, protecting the delicate vulnerabilities of an inner child that was full of love and wonder.

While most of her female peers were driven by emotions, Rosalyn was driven by an all-consuming determination, to achieve success and independence, at any cost, by any means necessary. Attending academically challenging schools, she lived by the mantra, Books Before Boys, Because Boys Bring Babies.

There were expectations for her to get married and have children. Rosalyn, never one to conform to societal norms, trailblazed a life that was unconventional, on her own terms.

Rosalyn had beauty and brains and made no secret that she favored intelligence. When people suggested that she could be a model, she would quickly snap back, Or a MD!.

Always an honor student, she graduated high school with enough credits to make a college freshman blush. Her academic prowess continued through university, medical school, and her medical residency, accumulating awards and promotions along the way, all while staying unapologetically authentic to her true self.

A world-traveler, collecting passport stamps, Rosalyn has circumvented the globe several times, spending time in exotic locales such as Bali, developing spiritual connections in Africa, and partying in Ibiza. This highly decorated surgeon welcomed life in the delivery room, while simultaneously celebrating life through experiences that most can only dream of having.

Her ability to quickly learn new languages and capture the hearts of people from different cultures, is like a chameleon. But Rosalyn doesnt blend in, she stands out. A flame, a shining light; people are drawn to her warmth, transparency, and authenticity.

If you have dared to live outside the box, are weighed down by societys expectations, or stuck in a life that no longer serves you, this book will provide encouragement to find your own way and the strength to resist mediocrity. You will find pieces yourself in the main character.

As you meet the actors and supporting characters, the exes, frenemies, the domineering authority figure, you will immediately recognize them as a character from your life. You will see how a decorated medical doctor goes from surgical scrubs to fishnets and thigh high boots without skipping a beat.

Settle in and get comfy, as Rosalyn shares her story on what it means to be human, to be inspired, and most of all, finding peace in being unapologetically, you.

Y ou have got to be kidding me! Storming down the hallway towards the elevator, this thought repeated over and over in my mind as I punched the down button.

I cannot fucking believe this! I said aloud as the elevator doors opened. It was our first night in Italy and I was not expecting our romantic rendezvous to start like this. We were staying in Ravenna with plans to hop from one Italian city to the next in a quick tour of some of the countrys most magical places. We both thought it would make for a fun way to spend our first vacation together. I entered the elevator and pressed the lobby button. Shaking my head in disgust during the descent, I thought about what transpired in our hotel room.

In preparation for fun days and sexy nights, I packed several pieces of lingerie. After our long day of travel, I slid into a tiny black sheer and lace teddy. I crawled into bed beside him, hoping he was just as eager to relax as I was. I pressed myself onto him and caressed my legs along his. Pushing my breasts against his body, I looked into his eyes and traced his skin gently with my fingertips. I leaned in to kiss him and as I closed my eyes and parted my lips he spoke.

Hey!? Where is that word search puzzle book you had on the plane?

I blinked. A breathless huh is the only response I could muster. He repeated his request.

Do you really want that word search book right now? I said slyly, as I adjusted my position giving him full view of my lace decorated body.

Yep. He responded. I blinked again and again as if the fluttering of my lashes would rewind time and we would be well on our way to an intimate entanglement.

Recounting the events that led to my abrupt exit from the room, I barely noticed when the elevator stopped in the lobby. The lobby bar of the Grand Hotel Mattei in Ravenna was much brighter than a hotel lobby bar needed to be. The ultramodern white sofa and chairs with black trim scattered around the area were more trendy than comfortable. I took a seat near the back of the bar, distancing myself from the crowd. There were several groups of people milling about, chatting, and laughing as they sipped libations. They looked like they were having a great time or at the very least, they were having a lot more fun than I was. I motioned for the bartender.

Vodka soda! Grazie!

Do you speak Italian? He asked, his English perfect.

No. I said with a smile. All I can say is Ciao, Grazie, and Parli Inglese. We laughed. I drank and made small talk with the nice guy at the bar. Usually I hated small talk, but I was too furious to go back upstairs. While I entertained idle conversation, my inner thoughts began to drift. I had not envisioned our vacation having such a shaky start. Even more problematic is that I did not foresee us having a complete communication meltdown. Just the other day we were praising ourselves for how well we worked together and twelve hours in Italy was putting that statement to the test.

Un Altro. I ordered another cocktail and recounted how we got here.

A little over forty-eight hours ago, I was anxiously and excitedly logging out of my computer to leave the office. Days at the office before taking time away were hectic and involved reviewing lab and imaging results, making patient phone calls, and ensuring patients with ongoing concerns had appropriate follow up. My workload was heavier than usual, compounded by playing catch up due to being away for two weddings in the weeks prior. Getting out of doctor mode and into vacation mode was a more than welcomed change of pace. I was desperately looking forward to this trip.